Page 219 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1
"Sometimes it still feels like I made you up. Maybe this will make it feel more real."
"It is real."
I looked up at him. Melissa's words came back to me about owning my relationship. "I love you, James."
"I love you."
When the front door opened I felt a little less nervous. I wanted to prove to James that I wasn't embarrassed that I was dating my professor. Because I wasn't. I was the lucky one. Maybe my parents would see that. I had won the lottery. They had to see that.
"Penny?" My mom called from the hallway.
"Hi, Mom!" I went over and hugged her as soon as she walked into the kitchen.
"It's so good to see you, sweetie." My mom pulled back. "And James!" My mom put down the paper bags she was holding on the kitchen table and went and hugged him.
James always seemed surprised when people showed him affection. He patted my mom's back awkwardly and smiled over at me. "It's great to see you again, Mrs. Taylor."
"I hope sandwiches are okay. I stopped by that little French bistro on the way home that you like so much. La Patisserie."
"That sounds fantastic." I wasn't sure why I had been so worried. I forgot how much my mom seemed to like James. Or maybe she was just happy that I finally had a boyfriend.
"If I wasn't so happy to see you both, I'd reprimand you for skipping classes today. Why the sudden urge to come home?" My mom opened up the fridge.
I need to tell you something."We both didn't have anything important going on today. I thought it might be fun to show James where I grew up."
I heard the front door open again. I took a deep breath. It was my dad that I was really worried about.
"Hey, Pen." As soon as my dad entered the kitchen he opened his arms.
I quickly gave him a hug. He still saw me as his little girl. I wasn't sure how he'd see me after I confessed I was dating my professor. I think that was what I was most afraid of. I didn't want my parents' opinion of me to change. It was funny, but I still thought of myself as a good girl, even though it was definitely no longer true.
My mom set the table and poured us each a glass of her homemade lemonade. When we sat down, James put his hand on my knee. I wasn't sure if that was a sign to start telling them, but I took it as one.
"So, what's up with you two?" I asked. "Do you have anything new and exciting going on?" I took a huge bite of my sandwich. I was already chickening out. James kept his hand on my knee.
"Just the usual. What about you two? How's Comm going?" My mom started to eat her sandwich too.
"Comm has been...interesting," I said. "Actually, the real reason that I'm here is that I have something I need to tell you." My mouth felt dry. I took a huge sip of lemonade.This is it."Actually, thatweneed to tell you." I looked over at James.
"Oh my God." My mom slowly placed her sandwich down on her plate. "Oh my God, you're pregnant?!"
James choked on his lemonade.
"What?!" my dad said way louder than he usually talked.
"No. No! I'm not pregnant." I laughed awkwardly. I had not meant to word that as strangely as I did. "I couldn't possibly be..." I let my voice trail off. I wasn't here to confess to them that I was sexually active. That was a conversation that I could not imagine ever having with my parents. But was it any worse than confessing what was actually going on?This is a disaster.
My parents just stared at me.
I swallowed hard and glanced sideways at James. He looked completely shocked that my mom had thought I was pregnant. I knew the idea of children freaked him out. He seemed to have completely lost his cool.
"Definitely not pregnant," I added, more for James than my parents. I took a deep breath. "Actually, what I needed to tell you is that James isn't a student at the University of New Castle."
My mom started laughing and put her hand on my dad's shoulder. "That's it? You scared me half to death."
Is my news worse than a pregnancy scare?I was even more terrified than before to tell them.
"So what do you do, James?" my dad asked. "Are you in vocational school or something?"
